A MAN grieving a close friend’s sudden death was involved in a police road chase in which he reached speeds of up to 130-miles per hour while over the drink and drug drive limit.

Durham Crown Court was told Richard Bowser had been drinking and taken cocaine in the early hours of Sunday May 23, when he left home following a row with his partner.

Police spotted him at the wheel of his Bentley Continental VRM in Tow Law, at about 11am.

Paul Abrahams, prosecuting, said a patrol vehicle gave chase, but Bowser sped away on the A68 and reached 130-miles per hour on a 60-limit stretch of the B6299 approaching Sunniside.

The Bentley performed dangerous overtaking manoeuvres, forcing other vehicles to stop or take avoiding action heading through Willington, where pedestrians, including children, were present.

Bowser lost control taking a bend at 90-mph, with his tyres appearing to be burning and off the ground.

Mr Abrahams said Bentley collided with a police car, leaving it a write-off, while both officers inside suffered minor injuries.

Despite debris falling from the Bentley, Bowser continued onto Low Willington Industrial Estate, where he abandoned it and fled on foot, but he was detained and arrested after being tasered.

He gave positive tests for both alcohol and cocaine.

Bowser, 44, of Meadow Court, Tow Law, admitted dangerous driving, while over the drink and drug limit, putting him in breach of a ten-month suspended prison sentence, imposed in January, for assault.

Jane Waugh, in mitigation, said he was faring well on the community element of that sentence until the sudden death of a close friend.

She said he unsuccessfully sought assistance for mental health issues and lapsed into drink and drug misuse prior to his friend’s funeral.

Judge Ray Singh said while he took into account those circumstances, there were “significant aggravating features”, including the “grossly excessive speeds” reached while under the influence of both drink and drugs.

“It was only by good fortune, and not design, that no-one was seriously injured.”

Imposing an 18-month prison sentence, including four months from the suspended sentence, he also banned Bowser from driving for three years and nine months.

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